Mere FIR registration does not justify passport refusal under Section 6 of Passports Act, 1967; requires pending court proceedings.

O R D E R

The petitioner is before this Court seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to re-issue the passport based upon his application in File No. TR1065111081225, dated 30.05.2025.

2. The grievance of the petitioner is that, though an application has been submitted for re-issuance of passport, the same has not been processed by the first respondent. According to the petitioner, the application has been kept pending on the ground that a criminal case has been registered against him.

3. Mr. M. Vaikkam Karunanithi, learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the second respondent, on instructions, submitted that a criminal case has been registered against the petitioner in Cr.No.622 of 2021.

4. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

5. The refusal to issue or renew a passport is governed by the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967. Under Section 6 of the Act, the Passport Authority is empowered to refuse issuance or renewal of a passport only in the circumstances specifically enumerated therein. One such ground is where proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the applicant are pending before a criminal court in India.

6. In the present case, the only reason cited by the first respondents is the registration of an FIR against the petitioner. However, mere registration of an FIR does not fall within the grounds contemplated under Section 6 of the Act. The statutory bar arises only when criminal proceedings are pending before a competent criminal court.

7. Therefore, the action of the first respondent in withholding the petitioner’s application solely on the basis of the registration of an FIR is not in consonance with the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967.

8. In view of the above, this Court finds merit in the petitioner’s contention.

9. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed and the first respondent is directed to process the petitioner’s application for issuance of a fresh passport bearing File No. TR1065111081225 dated 30.05.2025 and re-issue the passport, subject to the petitioner satisfying all other eligibility criteria prescribed under law.

10. The above exercise shall be completed within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

11. There shall be no order as to costs.